ARCHDIOCESE BUYING BACK ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE, WHICH IT SOLD IN 1974

The Archdiocese of Hartford will do just that when it resumes ownership of the West Hartford house used by Hartford's first archbishop, Henry J. O'Brien.

Last month, the archdiocese paid about $350,000 to buy the property it sold in 1974.

The 75-year-old home at 1109 Prospect Ave. was bought by the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission, which used it as a religious residence. The Vincentian Fathers later moved to Manchester and since 1994 have rented the house to the archdiocese.

Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, who has been living there since 1994, recently submitted his letter of resignation to the pope.

The Rev. John P. Gatzak, director of communication for the archdiocese, said the historic value of the house made the selling price a good deal.

"I do know that's a very good price," he said.

The Rev. Wadie Lanier has for years clothed and fed the less fortunate. Now she's going to try to educate them.

The pastor at Temple of God Miracle and Deliverance Church recently went before the city council looking for moral support and some money to create a $5 million technology center for students in the North End.

A crossing guard for 33 years, Lanier said the congregation, which now rents space at Unity Plaza on Barbour Street in Hartford, would like to buy a building for the church and technology center.

The church has plenty of moral support and has raised a "few dollars," but now is soliciting corporate and city leaders to raise money for the project.

"I feel there's a big need for this is the North End community," Lanier said.

Businessman Samuel Cephas, who is helping Lanier market the technology plan, said the program will prepare minority kids for technology jobs.

With a name like Felix Hell, the 17-year-old German-born organ virtuoso who has performed in churches around the world takes it in stride when people joke about his last name.

But Hell said it's even more annoying when people call him a prodigy.

"I hate that word," said Hell, a student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, who returns to Hartford to perform at South Church on Sunday. "It's like a monkey in the circus."

Hell said his talent is 10 percent prodigy and 90 percent hard work. He never considered, nor will he ever change his name, which in German means "bright."

"I love my name," he said.

The 4 p.m. concert will be held at the church, 277 Main St.

A $10 donation is suggested.

For information, call 249-8627.

It was the first time many could remember an interfaith group gathering to help Hartford.

More than 360 urban and suburban leaders and others representing a cross-section of nationalities and denominations recently met to explore Hartford revitalization and regionalism.

"That goes against everything Connecticut seems to have stood for the past 300 years," said the Rev. Richard Sherlock, pastor at Center Church and a member of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice.

With a 31-year-old daughter with multiple sclerosis, Edmund Dickens, 68, sometimes does a lot of lifting when it comes to tackling the 24 steps at Grace Lutheran Church.

But with the recent completion of the church's $260,000 in renovations, Marietta Dickens and other disabled parishioners now have the luxury of a hydraulic lift that has made attending a 10 a.m. service a lot more enjoyable -- and easier.

"The lift is awesome," said Marietta Dickens, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 23 and usually walks the stairs with the assistance of her father.

Church leaders painted and reconfigured the sanctuary by moving the altar forward and communion rail down to ground level. The pews were also widened making them accessible for people with wheelchairs.

"We're a very mission-minded church," said the Rev. Donald Larsen. "We wanted the building to be a fit launching pad for mission and ministry."

The church will celebrate the project's completion Sunday with a 3 p.m. service followed by a potluck supper. The dinner is free.